Hughes injury relief

FOOTBALL :Old Trafford breathed a collective sigh of relief yesterday following the news that Mark Hughes has not damaged his knee ligaments. It was feared that the Manchester United striker had sustained a possible career-threatening injury in S unday'sgame at Newcastle.

Although Hughes sustained a nasty gash down to the bone - which required 15 stitches - and tendon damage in a collision with the Newcastle goalkeeper, Pavel Srnicek, there was no ligament trouble.

However, Hughes will be out of the United side for a month, and their new £7m striker, Andy Cole, looks set to go straight into the team in Hughes' place.

Leicester have completed the signing of the Norwich player, Mark Robins, for £1m, just as their striker, Julian Joachim, was ruled out for the rest of the season following the discovery of a broken bone in his foot.

Robins said: "I am totally committed to Leicester and will be doing all I can to help keep them in the Premiership." He will make his debut in Saturday's home game with Leeds.

John Salako has signed a new long-term contract with Crystal Palace which will keep him at Selhurst Park until the late 1990s. Salako has been granted a testimonial year next season along with Richard Shaw, who agreed a new deal recently.

This latest move is a clear indication from Palace that they intend to hang on to their best players in their bid to progress in the Premiership.

Roy Evans, the Liverpool manager, has been rewarded for a successful start to his managerial career with an extension to his existing contract. The Anfield board have offered him a new deal which extends his present ties to the club by two years.